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Tees United Lions A 95-71 Richmond Vikings A

Lions entertained the visiting Richmond Vikings A team for this TBL Division One fixture although the six players of Vikings were more than a threat in the first half with Lions holding only a slender lead of 8 points at the interval. Hayden Patterson and Stuart Davison were rewarded for their recent efforts with starting positions and both did well. Steve Butler returned to the squad for his first game since the TBL Tournament in January, although only 2 games have been played since then and Mikey Wassell was welcomed back for his first game since the last time Lions played Richmond in September, such is the sporadic format of D1 games.

 

Lions started the game well as Butler ran home the first 2 points of the game followed by 2 free throws from Carlos Alemanno. Hayden Patterson then added a nice jump shot before Alemanno took the lead to 8-0 with another 2 free throws. It was the third minute before Vikings marked the score sheet as Mark Russell weaved into the key for a close range shot and captain; Jaycie Hall entered the fray with a lay up. Lions were quick to reply through James Burton, as he fired a 3 pointer to take the scores to 11-4 at the mid way point of the first quarter. Rory Livingstone worked well in the low post to force another 2 points for Vikings but again the flames were doused by Lions' Butler and Burton. With two minutes left in the first period, Lions were comfortable but not in control and a hungry Richmond side aimed to capitalise on this as Hall and Russell combined for a 7-2 run to reduce their deficit to 3 points, 16-13.

 

In the second quarter Richmond picked up where they left off, as Russell and Richard Cooper hit the first 4 points to take a 1 point lead, their first of the game. Lions' response was immediate as Luke Thompson hit his first shot of the game to regain the lead followed by a nice 3 pointer from Butler. This instigated a 7-2 run with Jaycie Hall halting the Vikings slide. Richy Keirl and Alemanno were then fouled and made 1 of 2 and 2 of 2 free throws respectively to take the score line to 28-19 with Alemanno proving accurate from the line; he would finish with 6 of 6. Lions were dealt a big blow when power forward and rebounding machine, Mikey Wassell turned an ankle and had to leave the game. In the sixth minute Vikings' Brian Mushonga was fouled and went to the line but missed both attempts although his blushes were spared as Cooper hit a big 3 pointer followed by a nice drive to the basket to bring the visitors back into the game. Hayden Patterson was enjoying a good game with a number of crucial steals to keep Lions noses in front, assisted by a late flurry of points from Luke Thompson. Vikings however were still only 8 points down, thanks to the hard working efforts of Russell and Hall. At half time the scoreboard indicated 38-30, but Lions were still not stamping their usual authority onto the game while Vikings were playing some of their best basketball of the season.

 

In the third quarter Lions drew first blood as the impressive Alemanno powered to the basket. Stuart Davison then went to the foul line but was unable to make either shot count, while Richmond's Jaycie hall went one better in making one of his two attempts as he was fouled in the act of shooting at the other end. Thompson extended Lions lead with a neat baseline drive and floating shot and then a 3 pointer to leave Richmond 14 points down. Jaycie Hall continued to lead by example in the fourth minute when he made a nice shot off the backboard but the following 8 points from Butler including two 3 pointers dealt a body blow to Richmond's, so far, inspirational game and took Lions to 18 in front, 55-37. In the seventh minute Richmond came back again as Ryon Dixon nailed a quick release 3 pointer to inspire a 10-2 run with only James Burton replying for Lions while Hall, Cooper and a Mushonga 3 pointer reduced the Lions lead to 10 points but more significantly proved to themselves they were able to match the Lions. By the end of the third, Lions had crawled back up to a 14 point lead, 61-47 but the warning signs of a potential upset were there and both teams would enter the final quarter looking to win the game.

 

The hard working Butler created a nuisance of himself from the word go in the fourth quarter as he stole the ball and was then fouled on a lay up, going to the line to convert both attempts. In the second minute Richmond again came back with venom as Ryon Dixon set his target for two consecutive 3 pointers forcing Lions to switch to a 3-2 zone to keep an eye on the Vikings shooting guard. Butler collected another 4 points, but it was his pressure on the ball that allowed Lions to complete a 11-0 run, Butler making 3 steals in just over a minute and proving an assist for Alemanno to slam home his 14th point of the night. In the seventh minute Butler was fouled by Mushonga and made the shot to continue for a 3 point play by converting the bonus free throw, which he did for an 81-63 lead with only four minutes remaining. Dixon made his fourth 3 pointer of the quarter in the eighth minute but it would not be enough Alemanno and Butler took Lions to 95 points, Butler hitting the last shot of the game with a 3 pointer close to the half way line. lions were worthy winners in the end, but Richmond proved more than worthy opponents and had the home team not woken up, Vikings, led by an inspirational 21 points from their captain Jaycie Hall could have caused an upset. Richard Cooper was also in superb form adding 17, his highest score of the season.

 

With Butler, Thompson and Alemanno hitting 35, 22 and 18 respectively, there was a good spread of scoring. Luke Thompson's offence was, as usual, crowd pleasing and his defence at times spectacular coming up with three athletic blocks, while a determined approach from Alemanno caused the visitors problems at both ends of the court. The MVP award though was given to Steve Butler who not only scored a game high 35 points but was a constant threat on defence and was the main contributor in extending the lead, adding 18 points and making 5 steals in the final quarter alone.

 

Teams   Lions Vikings 7 9 11 14 18 22 23 30 45 65 David Whitney Stuart Davison* Steve Butler* Hayden Patterson* Alex Moore Michael Wassell Luke Thompson Richy Keirl James Burton* Carlos Alemanno* 5 6 11 12 13 14   Mark Russell* Jaycie Hall* Ryon Dixon* Rory Livingstone* Richard Cooper* Brian Mushonga   Coach: James Thomson Asst Coach: Captain: Carlos Alemanno Coach: Jaycie hall Asst Coach: Captain: Jaycie Hall * starting players   Referees Steve Lynas & Darren Butler

MVP Steve Butler shoots over Richmond player of the game Jaycie Hall

Game MVP: Steve Butler   Top Scorers Lions: Butler 35, Thompson 22, Alemanno 18, Moore 7, Burton 6, Patterson 4, Keirl 3   Vikings: Hall 21, Cooper 17, Dixon 15, Russell 13, Mushonga 3, Livingstone 2

 

 

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